Abstract This paper makes three contributions to the student performance literature. First, the study extends prior research by presenting a model that incorporates more factors into a single study than has prior research. The author developed the model by examining both the business education literature and the general education literature to identify factors associated with high performance. Accordingly, the model includes several variables not examined in the accounting education literature to date, such as the effects of family activities, work activities, extracurricular activities and classroom environment, on performance. Second, this study uses structural equations modeling (SEM), a statistical methodology, to examine the components of the models. SEM allows simultaneous testing of an entire model of student performance instead of a simple examination of the relationship between two variables. Third, this study tests the model by examining both a traditional and a nontraditional student population. The results of the study provide strong support for parts of the model. The author provides practical discussion and recommendations that will help instructors use the study results to create a favorable impact on the learning environment of their introductory accounting classes.
Thomas C. Wooten (Fri,) studied this question.